Do your staff have disability awareness?

Amazing staff leave lasting memories, and managers and business owners can help their staff become more aware of disabled access and what to do when disabled visitors have questions about accessibility. Without this support, some staff members might lack confidence when giving information to disabled visitors, and this can affect how people remember your venue. To get started, we’re sharing a few tips to help your staff approach those ‘not quite sure’ moments!

A simple hello can make a big difference

Nothing beats a warm welcome! Encourage your staff to greet everybody who visits your venue and to offer some basic information about finding their way around. If your main entrance does not have an automatic door, remind staff to keep an eye on approaching visitors in case they could use some assistance to open it.

Can everybody work the hearing loop?

If your venue has technology such as hearing loops or platform lifts, that’s a great start! But it’s no use if there is nobody around who knows how to use them. It’s not just electronic equipment, but portable ramps, locating large print leaflets, radar keys and more. Keep staff trained and up to date with the ways in which they can help people enjoy your venue.

Case study: Duchess Theatre

“The theatre is quite old, so is not designed for wheelchairs, but there are systems in place which allow wheelchairs to access the theatre. All the staff were extremely helpful, they were competent when using the stairs machine, and they said they had tested is themselves on each other. They directed us all the way to our seats, which were fully accessible. After the show, they had to wait for everyone else to leave so they could close the stairs, but once everyone else was gone, they let us out using the stairs machine and then patiently told us which bus we would need to get back to our hotel.” Read review >>

There are endless ways to communicate

We all communicate in more ways than one, whether that be by speech, text, telephone, or even by disappearing photographs! Remind your staff to be open to the variety of ways that people talk, and encourage them to ask questions to find out visitors’ preferred way of communicating. You can make this easier by having a notepad and pen by your reception or main desk; indicating whether any staff members can use BSL; or by ensuring there are various ways that people can contact your venue, not just via a web contact form. Don’t forget, not everyone uses a computer in the same way, and for some people it may be easier to use the phone.

Where can your staff recommend nearby?

There are many other factors outside of your venue that can influence a person’s decision to visit. For disabled people, proximity to accessible public transport may be important, or it could be knowing there is somewhere nearby to exercise their assistance dog. If your venue does not have customer toilet facilities, many people may wish to know where the nearest accessible loo is. Make sure your staff can answer these questions if asked.

Look after your accessible loo

Speaking of toilets, it’s important for staff to be aware of your venue’s accessible loo. Regular check-ups are necessary to ensure that everything is in working order; particularly emergency alarms, locks and grab rail fittings. Don’t forget, space is key in accessible toilets and they should not be used as a storage facility. Add toilet check-ups to your staff rota and make sure that the emergency alarm reaches the floor. Request a Red Cord Card >>

There’s no harm in asking

Polite staff will have no trouble asking visitors if there is anything they can do to help, and this is encouraged! Don’t be afraid to ask wheelchair users if they’d like a door held open, or to ask visually impaired people if they would prefer to view a menu in an alternative format. You might also ask people if they’d like a bowl of water for their assistance dog – we have a few of those if you’re missing one!

“The staff are brilliant and very helpful. The BFI was the 1st place I visited after I had my fall, last year, and I was still very immobile. I had phoned up as I was nervous about going out again and the staff could not have been more helpful or reassuring. When I arrived at the box office they helped me to the accessible toilet and waited outside. They then took me a different entrance to my screen so I remained on the one level. They saw me to my seat and then the usher at the main entrance to the screen brought me a copy of the screen notes and told me he would return at the end of the film. He did and I was very wobbly but he was very patient and helped me up and escorted me out of the building.” Read review >>

Share your latest reviews with staff

When you receive a disabled access review on Euan’s Guide, distribute it around your team. Feedback can be very helpful, and it’s always rewarding to see a mention of great staff!